Why No Mention, Mr Cameron?
Remember the way in which David Cameron berated the PM for failing to include in the Queen's Speech any mention of legislation to implement the new expenses system?Speaking with a Number Ten bod yesterday, I was told that there had been no mention of it in discussions before the state opening.Far from being an attempt to place the uncomfortable subject on the back burner, my source said, this was with hindsight an error - and one Gordon Brown was punished for on the day. At length.Now another source close to the PM has drawn my attention to

Brown The Royal Reformer?
Is Gordon Brown going to be the Prime Minister who finally drags the ridiculous and out-of-date laws on Royal marriages and succession into the 21st century?At Prime Minister's Questions, he gave a pretty strong signal that he plans to raise the subject at this weekend's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad."The Act of Succession is outdated," he told MPs. "I think most people recognise the need for change. Change can only be brought about by not just the United Kingdom but all realms where Her Majesty is Queen making a decisi

PMQs Deconstructed
 

Can You Keep A Secret?
When was the Prime Minister made aware of the £62bn emergency loan to RBS and HBOS?The cash came from the Bank of England as lender of last resort, but was underwritten by the Government.This morning, when asked when the PM knew of these loans, his Official Spokesman (PMOS) could not say for certain.Some Lloyds shareholders, whose bank merged with HBOS around the time of the loans, might have been rather more reticent to lend their support had they known how perilously close the bank was to collapse.And let's not forget, Gordon

PMQs: 25th November 2009
It's the first Prime Minister's Questions since the Queen's speech last week and the leaders have a lot to debate about.But which of them will come out fighting and win?We will bring you all